ST. LOUIS 鈥 A group of Black heavy equipment operators filed suit Monday against the city and its refuse division, arguing they are paid less than their white counterparts and have been denied overtime they鈥檙e owed.
The nine men say the refuse division, which collects trash and ensures it goes to a landfill or recycling plant, and their manager have repeatedly denied overtime pay in violation of federal law. They also earn less than the city鈥檚 white heavy equipment operators despite doing the same work, the suit says.
鈥(The men) have suffered damages and continue to suffer damages as a result of (the city鈥檚) acts,鈥 the lawsuit states. The workers are asking for an unspecified amount of damages, back pay and unpaid wages.
A city spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit but noted in a statement that refuse division employees were set to receive raises on top of other pay increases for all city employees.
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The suit is the latest controversy for a city department that has had high-profile struggles picking up trash due to equipment breakdowns, illegal dumping and labor shortages.
The men listed in the suit have worked for the city for between two and 20 years, and almost all were paid between roughly $45,000 and $76,600 in 2022, .
Their suit says that during an unidentified period, the men repeatedly worked more than 40 hours a week without extra compensation required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and Missouri鈥檚 minimum wage law.
They also earn less than all other heavy equipment operators employed by the city through its refuse division with similar ranks and lengths of employment, the suit says.
A hearing has not yet been set in the case.